A familiar face returned to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during IU's WNIT loss to Villanova on Sunday.
Tom Crean.
"I'm not surprised by that," IU head women's coach Teri Moren said postgame.
Crean, who was fired from head men's coaching duties 10 days ago, quietly appeared just off the southeast side of Branch McCracken Court and hung around the tunnel toward the tunnel nearest Cook Hall.
He kept a low profile wearing a gray pullover jacket and sweatpants but cheered Moren's Hoosiers on throughout the second quarter and the second half. He shook hands with and hugged those who recognized him and came his way and managed to talk to a few former men's players who were also in attendance.
At halftime, Moren spotted Crean and hugged him. He actually wound up knocking the water Moren was holding right out of her hands.
"We had a little bit of a laugh," she said.
Moren cried as she thanked Crean for all he did for her and her program earlier this month shortly after his firing. She said then that she expected him to continue to reach out and support her team moving forward.
Crean wasted no time proving she was right.
"He's a great supporter of ours and a great friend," Moren said. "That's Tom Crean."
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